working copy, feb., 2015 - heinrich frey family assn
TRANSCRIPT
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HFFA NEWSA Publication of the Heinrich Frey Family Association
HFFA NEWSLETTER — VOL. 20, Issue #3, Aug., 2015
Descendants Photo at the 2015 HFFA Reunion in Morgantown, Pennsylvania
Kneeling or sitting: Ginny Fry Santos, Ann Mazeau, Bill Kavage, Gretchen Fry Harvey, Shirley Fry Clark, Helen Frye Craig, Bev Raber, Sherry Morgan. Standing: Peggy Hughes, Jennie Kavage, Dick Bell, Mike Speers, Ronnie Ellis, Sue Steffy, Norm Schulze, Janet Goforth, Joyce Rivera, Marilyn Baridon, Mary Sue Hubbard, Jon Frye, Anne Pasieka, George Frye, Thelma McKenzie, Maryann Doud, Gene Frye. Not pictured: Ralph E. Frye, Susan Rosen-Latham, Joyce McKay, John McKay, Bill Frye, spouses and other family members who attended the reunion.
Hello Cousins, Kin, and Other Readers,
This issue of the newsletter will predominantly be dedicated to the June 2015 Reunion. Our hosts and organizers Gene Frye, Luisa Georgov, Bev & Terry Raber did an outstanding job. Our local trio of hosts and docents Fannie Frey, Sue Steffy, and Naomi Fisher did a wonderful job feeding and educating us. This reunion will always be remembered for the work that all those named above put into the reunion. Congratulations and thank you to all of them for the work they did on our behalf. It was a great reunion.
Our thanks also to Ronnie Ellis, Norm Schulze and Jon Frye for their presentations on the subject of our historical roots in Switzerland and Germany.
A lot went on at the reunion. For many attendees this was a return to the 2000 reunion hosted by Jim and Fannie Frey. But, it was more than that as we got to explore the Lutheran and Mennonite heritage of Heinrich Frey.
Most of this issue of the newsletter will be devoted to the reunion. Our thanks to all who attended and contributed material for this issue.
Reunion Financial Report:
income: Registrations: $4445.00
Expenses: Refunds: $784.00 Program: $110.00 Amish Dinner: $774.00 Luisa Georgov: Food items: $613.43 Hotel rental and equipment: $450.50 Admission Fees: $508.00 Buffett Dinner: $1144.49 Germantown Parking: $3.00 TOTAL EXPENSES: $4387.42
REUNION PROCEEDS ABSORBED INTO THE HFFA TREASURY: $57.58
Refunds to be returned to Treasury: $106.00
Some other refunds were exchanged for Links Book CD’s, Memberships, and gifts to HFFA.
The expense for the bus rental: $1350.00 comes out of HFFA funds and does not count against the Registration Income.
This report respectfully submitted by Mike Speers, Treasurer HFFA
FROM THE PRESIDENT:
Dear Family,
The 2015 HFFA Reunion at Morgantown, PA has come and gone. We had good weather and I really enjoyed meeting and visiting with all the family. It was nice to see ones we already knew and to meet new members. There were many who put forth a lot of effort for that weekend and I sincerely appreciate the time they took to make it memorable for all of us.
I wish to thank Fannie Frey, Sue Steffy and Luisa Georgov for their guidance with the food selections (we enjoyed many local specialties!) and agenda.
For the ones who could not attend, we missed you and hope to see you at the next reunion in 2017. We do not have a location selected at this time but we have one or two locations that are of interest.
I wish to thank Beverly Raber for her guidance on the tour of cemeteries and churches. For the benefit of those unable to attend but who might like to drive the route, here is the route we drove on Friday, June 12.
Depart from Holiday Inn, 6170 Morgantown, RD, 19543 -New Apostolic Church/cemetery @ 315 W. Ridge Pike, Royersford, PA 19468 -Augustus Lutheran Church/cemetery @ 717 W. Main Street, Trappe, PA 19426 -Lower Providence Baptist Church @ 3430 Ridge Pike, Eagleville, PA 19408 -Jeffersonville Presbyterian Church/cemetery@ 1921 W. Main St, Norristown, PA 19403 -Germantown Mennonite Meeting House @ 6119 Germantown Ave, Phil, PA 19144
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-Leverington Cemetery/Baptist Church @ 6075 Ridge Ave, Phil, PA 19128 Ft. Washington State Park off Joshua Rd (lunch break) -Heinrich and Anna Frey cemetery on private property @ 2285 Kerr Rd, Harleysville, PA 19438 -Franconia Mennonite Meeting House/cemetery @ 613 Harleysville Pike/Souderton Pike, Telford, PA 18969 -Bartolet Meeting House/cemetery @ 538 Colonial Rd, Perkiomenville, PA 18074 Dinner: Shady Maple, East Earl, PA Return to Holiday Inn Morgantown I welcome your comments on the reunion and please consider a location near you for 2017. Enjoy the rest of the summer!
Gene Frye
President, HFFA
RECORD KEEPING
New Members
George Smith Frye, Jr. 127 Village Rd. East Bridgewater, MA 02333 ph. 508 - 378 - 2312 email: [email protected]
1. Heinrich Frey / Anna Catherine Levering 2. Benjamin Frey / Christena 3. Samuel Frye / Christena Speers 4. Abraham Jackson Fry / Isabella
Ringland 5. Jackson Frye / Elizabeth C. Wall 6. William Smith Frye / Alma M. Steinback 7. George Smith Frye, Sr. / Martha Erma
Sproull 8. George Smith Frye, Jr. / Sandra Ann
St. Pierre
Christina Frye Fecher 6461 Granny Smith Lane Avon, IN 46123 ph. 317-268-4392 email: [email protected]
1. Heinrich Frey / Anna Catherine Levering 2. Benjamin Frey / Christena 3. Benjamin Fry / Catherine 4. Benjamin Fry / 5. Isaac Fry / Gertrude Bentham 6. John Bentham Fry / Rebecca Tuttle 7. Isaac Minor Frye / Laura Mae Wilson 8. John Grant Frye / Emma Brucher 9. Ralph Edward Frye / Marsha Uptegrove 10. Christina Leigh Frye / Michael Allen
Fecher
Ed. note: Marsha Uptegrove in the lineage above is known to us as Marti Frye.
Ivan Dean Lancaster POB 128 Trafalgar, IN 46181 Ph. 317 - 878 - 5351 email: [email protected]
1. Heinrich Frey / Anna Catherine Levering 2. Benjamin Frey / Christena 3. William Frey / Rachel Spears 4. Rebecca Frey / Joseph Boone, Sr. 5. Lucinda Boone / Clifford Butler 6. Martha Butler / Wesley Collins 7. William H. Collins / Rebecca Ann Sosbe 8. Martha W. Wollins / Francis Lucas Taylor 9. Bessie F. Taylor / William Hollandbeck 10. Viola E. Hollandbeck / Raymond E.
Lancaster 11. Ivan Dean Lancaster
Edward Newton Frye 15216 Fog Mountain Circle Haymarket, VA 20169 Ph. 703-861-0435 email: [email protected]
1. Heinrich Frey / Anna Catherine Levering 2. Benjamin Frey / Christena 3. Jacob Fry / Margaret Pugh 4. Joseph Fry / Elizabeth Hotsbieler 5. Joseph Pugh Fry / Elizabeth Moss 6. Atwell Washington Frye / Martha
Washington Maphis 7. Edward Newton Frye / Cleva Alice
Wisman 8. Leonard Wisman Frye / Hallie Mae
Wiseman 9. Edward Newton Frye / Margaret Ann
Skillman
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BIRTHS
William M. Frye (Bill Frye) caught us up to date about his family during the recent HFFA Reunion. He is married to Carol G. Gossard. Their daughter, Julia C. (26 Jan 1982) is married to Babafemi Odugbesan of Nigeria. They have two daughters: Omolola A. (b. 12 Jan 2013) and Olukemi A. (b. 28 Apr 2015.) They go by the names Lola and Kemi, respectively.
1. Heinrich Frey / Anna Catherine Levering 2. Benjamin Frey / Christena 3. Joseph Fry / Ann Funk 4. Benjamin Fry / Mary M. Secrist 5. John M. Fry / Mary M. Snapp 6. Elisha Snapp / Mary M. Llewellyn 7. James Leisure Fry / Savannah Stanley 8. William Willard Frye / Mary Lois Hull 9. Jack Willard Frye / Helen A. Matthews 10. William Matthew Frye / Carol G.
Gossard 11. Julia C. Frye / Babafemi Odugbesan 12. Omolola A. Odugbesan (Lola) 12. Olukemi A. Odugbesan (Kemi)
At the reunion, we learned that Fannie Frey has another great grand daughter. Elaina Jo Buckwalter, born 14 Apr 2015. The baby’s grandmother is Sue Steffy who had many roles at the recent Reunion, preparer of food, speaker, bus guide, and everyone’s newest best friend.
1. Heinrich Frey / Anna Catherine Levering 2. John Frey / Mary ann Keisler 3. Samuel Frey, Sr. / Dianna Wells 4. Enoch Fry, Sr. / Elizabeth Dressler 5. James Wesley Fry / Sarah 6. Martha Jane Fry / James Edward
Spencer 7. James Cleveland Frey / Eva Thompson 8. Franklin Cyril Frey / Mabel Anna Artera 9. James Elwood Frey / Fannie Bertha
Sharp 10. Susan Elaine Frey / Jason Scott Steffy 11. Shelby Jo Steffy / Shawn Buckwalter 12. Elaina Jo Buckwalter
Benjamin Scott Frye grandson of Jon and Deborah Frye was born 4 Apr 2015. His parents are Ethan (HFFA) and Holly Frye. Little Ben is welcomed by his siblings Samuel Ethan Frye and Phoebe Frye. He is Jon’s 6th grandchild.
1. Heinrich Frey / Anna Catherine Levering 2. Benjamin Frey / Christena 3. Abraham Fry, Sr. / Agnes Ann Young 4. James Fry / Nancy Speers 5. Benjamin Fry / Nancy Agnes Kellar 6. William Kellar Fry, Sr. / America Kirby 7. Walter Scott Fry / Lola May Morgart 8. Bert Scott Frye / Laura Peithman 9. L. Bert Frye / Esther Gladys Wilder 10. Johathan Merrill Frye / Deborah Eplee 11. Ethan Scott Frye / Holly Forsberg 12. Benjamin Scott Frye
NEW ADDRESS
Fannie Frey 1001 E.Oregon Rd. Lititz, PA 17543 Ph. 717 - 509 - 4241
Fran Ramey 21023 Amber Crossing Dr. Richmond, TX 77406 Ph. 832 945 5837 email: [email protected]
Graduations and/or Marriages:
Amie Dorene Speers
Amie Speers, daughter of Van Alden Speers, Jr. and Robin Lynn Williams, married John Joseph Watroba III on 1 Aug 2015 at the Bible Community Church in Aliquippa, PA. Amie graduated in May from Geneva College in Beaver Falls, PA with a major in Music Education. Amie has two siblings, Anne Janelle Speers and Adam Van Speers, both music students at Geneva College
1. Heinrich Frey / Anna Catherine Levering 2. Benjamin Frey / Christena 3. Henry Frye / Fanny Littler 4. Rebecka Frye / Henry Speers
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5. Apollos Speers / Elizabeth Cooper 6. Noah Speers / Sarah Amanda Ward 7. Van Lawrence Speers / Margaret
Torrance McClain 8. Alden Otis Davis Speers / Katherine
Bertha Bonsch 9. Van Alden Speers, Sr. / Martha Mimidis 10. Van Alden Speers, Jr. / Robin Williams 11. Amie Dorene Speers / John Joseph
Watroba III
Lillian Marie Chong
The oldest grandchild of Mike and Rose H. Speers (step grandmother), Lillian Marie Chong, graduated from Mount Vernon High School in Alexandria, VA. Both her home and her school is on property once owned by George Washington as part of his original 8000 acre estate. Lily will be attending George Mason University in the Fall, majoring in biology.
1. Heinrich Frey / Anna Catherine Levering 2. Benjamin Frey / Christena 3. Henry Frye / Fannie Littler 4. Rebecka Frye / Henry Speers 5. Apollos Speers / Elizabeth Cooper 6. Noah Speers / Sarah Amanda Ward 7. Van L. Speers / Margaret McClain 8. John Lawrence Speers / Alice M. Morris 9. Van L. Speers (Mike) / 1) Jeannette
Vasek 10. Rosemary Alice Speers / Ronald S.
Chong 11. Lillian Marie Chong
Judy Fry of Ft. Worth, TX and Lloyd Fry of Paris, TX send in the following information about graduations and/or marriages in their family.
Jennifer L. Fry married Bryan Smith on 16 Apr 2015.
Brian Scott Ciriot married Amy Lynn Thomerson on 20 Jun 2015 in Hawaii.
Tonya L. Fry graduated from Texas Women’s University in Denton, TX with a degree in Nutrition Science. She is the niece of HFFA members Judy Fry and Lloyd Fry. She was a visitor at the HFFA Reunion in Mineola, TX in 2009.
Jennifer L. Fry, Brian Scott Ciriot, and Tonya L. Fry are nieces and nephew of HFFA siblings Judy Fry and Lloyd Fry. See the links below.
1. Heinrich Frey / Anna Catherine Levering 2. Benjamin Frey / Christena 3. Abraham Fry, Sr. / Agnes Ann Young 4. James Fry / Nancy Speers 5. Benjamin Fry / Nancy Agnes Kellar 6. Abraham Kellar Fry / Sarah McFall 7. Fitz Edward Fry / Minerva C. Eastman 8. Ivan Bruce Fry / Margaret Abernathy 9. Albert Ivan Fry / Eva Louise Barton
10. Donald Fry / Karen Hooper 11. Jennifer L. Fry / Bryan Smith
10. Donald Fry / Donelle 11. Tonya L. Fry
10. Virginia Fry / Barton Ciriot 11. Brian Scott Ciriot / Amy Lynn Thomerson
10. Judith Elaine Fry 10. Lloyd Edward Fry ****************************************** Heinrich Frey Family Association
Business MeetingJune 11, 2015
Holiday Inn, Morgantown, PA
The meeting was called to order by President Gene Frye at 2:44 PM. He welcomed all present.
Secretary Thelma McKenzie read the minutes from the 2013 meeting in Kansas City, MO. There were no additions or corrections offered. Mike Speers moved the minutes be accepted as read. Norm Schulze s e c o n d e d t h e m o t i o n . I t p a s s e d unanimously.
Treasurer Mike Speers gave a Treasurer’s Report, including a current checking account balance of $9,992.98. There were still reunion expenses and income to be recorded. A full accounting would be published in the next newsletter. Bev Raber moved the Treasurer’s Report be accepted as presented. The motion was seconded by Dick Bell and passed without dissent.
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President Frye asked Thelma McKenzie to conduct the election. She read a proposed slate as follows:
President . . . Gene Frye
Vice President . . . Jon Frye
Secretary . . . no nominee
Treasurer . . . Mike Speers
Director at Large . . . Phillip Frye
Director at Large . . . Ralph E. Frye
Director at Large . . . Janet Goforth
Director at Large . . . Anne Pasieka
Director at Large . . . no nominee
Mike Speers nominated Gretchen Fry Harvey for Secretary; she accepted the nomina t ion . There be ing no o ther nomination, Helen Craig moved nominations for Secretary be closed. Norm Schulze seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. Mike Speers nominated Thelma McKenzie for the open Director at La rge pos i t i on ; she accep ted the nomina t ion . There be ing no o ther nomination, Helen Craig moved the nominations for Director at Large be closed. Ralph Frye seconded the motion. It passed unanimously. There being no other nominations, Bev Raber moved the nominations be closed, and the slate elected. The motion was seconded by Dick Bell; it passed unanimously.
(A short break was declared at 3:07 PM. When all had returned, Janet Goforth distributed the door prizes accompanied by much delight and good-natured banter. The meeting reconvened at 4:27 PM.)
Marti Frye displayed the master copy of the Links Book and explained what was in the updated version. She announced that a CD with all files would be mailed to those ordering one from Treasurer Mike Speers for $15. She also had a few 2013 tote bags available for $15.
Dick Bell inquired about the possibility of placing a plaque at the Frye Fort cemetery.
After a brief discussion the consensus was that a plaque matching the one placed on the house would be the most appropriate. If mounted to a granite slab, how easy/difficult would it be to transport the slab up the slope? A listing of all persons known buried in the cemetery should be part of the plaque. Dick moved that HFFA funds up to a maximum of $2,000, plus any funds specifically donated for the project, be used to erect a plaque at the Frye Fort cemetery. Helen Craig seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
In 2013 Gordon Fry had indicated he no longer wished to be the HFFA Archivist and would like approximately 18 boxes of the organization’s materials stored elsewhere. Nothing had been done. Anne Pasieka suggested the material be donated to the Library of Mid-America in Independence, Missouri. When several members voiced concerns, the suggestion was withdrawn. It was noted that the organization did not know what material Gordon had; it could be that the information is now readily available on the Internet and does not necessarily need to be retained. Thelma McKenzie moved that Marti Frye contact Gordon to find out exactly what materials he has and report back to the Board. Norm Schulze seconded the motion. It passed with just one dissension.
A discussion of how to best mark the burial site of Heinrich Frey resulted in many suggestions. As only the reunion hosts had actually seen the site, many were not sure what was feasible. Gretchen Fry Harvey moved the topic be revisited once the group had a chance to see the property the following day. Marti Frye seconded the motion. It passed unanimously.
Gretchen Fry Harvey moved that she be permitted to create a Facebook group for HFFA. Ralph Frye seconded the motion. Gretchen explained that users must be invited to join the group and then accept the invitation before being able to view its content. Once allowed in, members could post messages and photos. The vote to permit Gretchen to create an HFFA Facebook group was unanimous in favor.
Jon Frye made several announcements. The first was a Germanna Conference and Reunion would be held July 16-19 in Locust
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Grove, Virginia. The next was to ask if anyone was interested in joining him and Dick Bell on a trip to the Frye Fort cemetery; Norm Schulze volunteered. Jon mentioned he would conduct the Sunday worship service as a Bible study; “What does the Bible say about genealogy?” was his chosen topic. He mentioned a fourth variation of our surname: Frei. He asked for approval to make Luisa Georgov an honorary family member. When all indicated approval, he announced that Luisa needed to choose which spelling she would adopt - Frey, Fry, Frye or Frei. He reminded everyone that in order to continue producing the HFFA Journal, he needed material submitted by members . He would still edit and do research for the articles, but written material would be greatly appreciated. Lastly, he announced he has a new grandson - another Benjamin.
Everyone was reminded to board the bus at 8:10 AM on the following day so the group could depart on time. A full day was planned. Transportation to the airport on Sunday was available at the rate of $150 for 10 people; anyone interested should see Luisa Georgov as soon as possible.
Norm Schulze asked if there was any possibility of digitizing all the material Charles Burgess has collected over the years. Bev Raber said she could probably make arrangements to scan the material if someone would contact Charles and make sure he was agreeable that she do so.
There being no other business brought forward, Ralph Frye moved the meeting be adjourned. The motion was seconded by Dick Bell; it passed unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:03 PM. Respectfully submitted,
Thelma McKenzie, Secretary
QUERY:
Mary Newman Brister, nee Fry, born at the Trappe, June 8, 1780, in good health, and had never been sick until the year previous. She was married to George Brister, in Philadelphia, who died in Washington, 1850. He was in the war
with England, 1812 and fought at New Orleans. George Fry, Mrs. Brister's father, was born in Bucks County, 1730, and died 1833. He served in the Braddock campaign, 1755; and, at the age of 103, walked from Philadelphia to Cincinnati, Ohio, but was never heard of afterward.
Mabel “ Mac” Pursel Las Vegas, NV
Do any of these names and families appear in any of our member’s data bases? It appears they would be important and interesting people for us to know about.
Homemade Mint Tea
Contributed by Naomi Fisher, Fannie Frey, Sue Steffy
Homemade Ice Tea served at the lunch break during the HFFA Reunion.
10 8 -10 inches long stems of mint 2 quarts of water 3/4 cup of Sugar Use the top part of the tea something around (8-10 inches). You may add the bottom leaves from the stem but removed from stem before placing in water.
Make sure you wash the tea so that you remove the bugs and dirt. Bring the two quarts of water to a complete/full boil. Recommended to use a glass or stainless steel container for the water to boil in.
Remove from heat, add the long tea stems and leaves, stir, cover and steep for 20 minutes.
Remove the stems and leaves place on plate. Add sugar and stir until all is dissolved. When the tea stems are cooled squeeze the tea steams and leaves to get the rest of the flavor of the tea, add this to the concentrate of the tea. Since this is a concentrate please add ice and water to make a gallon.
To maintain the flavor of the tea and keep it cold, please follow these instructions. If you are using this concentrate for the frozen ice of the tea, do not add the sugar so that
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when the tea melts it will not be over powered with the sugar and melt in a natural way.
Have fun with this.
Fannie Frey, Sue Steffy, Naomi Fisher
Personal Journal Entry About the HFFA Reunion
Contributed by Marilyn Fry, edited to fit the available space by Mike Speers
Thursday, 11 June 2015 Holiday Inn at Morgantown, PA
Synopsis of Speakers
After greetings by HFFA President Gene Frye and an introduction of HFFA officers and Board Members, we began with a presentation by Ronnie Ellis of Austin, TX.
He gave a slide presentation about the history of the Anabaptists in Switzerland and the Alsace region between France and Germany. The Anabaptist movement was part of the Protestant Reformation: Christians who did not believe in infant baptism, who believed that people should wait to be baptized until they reach an age when they understood what baptism really meant. Since the population at that time had already been baptized in the Catholic Church (or later in the Lutheran Church), the Anabaptists were known as “second baptizers”; they baptized members a second time as adults. That is the derivation of the name Anabaptists.
The Anabaptist movement was started by Huldrych Zwingli (1484 - 1531) in Zurich, Switzerland. He wanted to reform the Catholic Church.
Another important Anabaptist was Menno Simons (1496 - 1561), born in the Netherlands. He migrated to Switzerland and formalized the teaching of the earlier Swiss Anabaptist founders. His followers are known as Mennonites.
More than 100 years later, in 1693, a Swiss Mennonite leader, Jakob Amman tried to
reform the Mennonite Church in Switzerland and South Germany. The result was a schism within a group of Swiss and Alsatian Anabaptists. His followers are known as Amish Mennonites, or simply the Amish.
Although Heinrich Frey was baptized in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Althea in the Alsace, he was probably a Mennonite who fled persecution in Europe to come to the colony where William Penn, a Quaker, had promised religious freedom to all.
The first Mennonites arrived in 1683 and created Germantown, Pennsylvania. Heinrich Frey arrived only two years later, 1685 and also settled in Germantown.
Our second speaker of the day was Norm Schulze of Clifton, VA. He showed a wonderful film of the 2011 reunion in Winchester, Virginia. Many people asked for a DVD of the film but Norm was concerned about gett ing into legal trouble for d ist r ibut ing a v ideo that contained copyrighted music.
Jon Frey, of Jamestown, OH gave a presentation on the parents of Heinrich Frey, Jacob Frey and Anna Hirtzeller. He traced their births in Switzerland and their immigration to the Alsace.
Another speaker was Sue Steffy, of Lancaster, PA who gave a presentation about her father James Frey. He and his wife Fannie were the hosts of the 2000 Reunion that was also in Morgantown. He was an avid genealogist, a charter member and former president of HFFA.
During Sue’s presentation, her mother Fannie Frey of Letitz, PA, demonstrated a dress that women would wear in colonial America. Her father, Jim Frey had made this dress.
It must be noted that we had a wonderful lunch that was prepared and served by Sue Steffy, Fannie Frey, Naomi Fisher (niece of Fannie), and Luisa Georgov (Their recipe for mint tea is offered on page 6 of this newsletter.)
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Friday, 12 June 2015 Bus Tour We had a full bus on Friday as a few more people arrived for the reunion. We visited a number of cemeteries where Frye relatives were buried.
We stopped in Germantown, PA and had a docent- led tour of the Germantown Mennonite Meetinghouse.
A highlight of the day occurred when we were taken to the land owned by Heinrich Frey and wife Anna Catherine Levering. It is on this land that they are buried. This burial ground is overgrown and full of ground hog holes, weeds, and trees.
Later, some HFFA members made a commitment to clean up the area and President Gene Frye asked the current owner if we could erect a plaque or monument for those who are interred there. (Such plans are now being made.)
We also visited the Bertolet Cemetery that contains a large monument with information about Heinrich Frey and family. However, it is almost 100% wrong. It began by identifying him as a Huguenot. That is definitely not correct. The plaque had wrong dates and wrong names as well.
We had a picnic lunch at a Ft. Washington State Park in the middle of the day. We learned that Tastee Kake desserts are a product of Germantown.
During the day we visited the Mennonite Information Center in Harleysville, PA and saw informative movies on the Amish and Mennonite people and their origins in Switzerland and Alsace.
That evening we had dinner at Shady Maple Smorgasbord. They offer a huge buffet with a full menu and variety of offerings. It looked like it could seat at least a 1000 people.
Bus Route Friday June 12.
Tour planned and led by Bev Raber.
-New Apostolic Church/cemetery @ 315 W. Ridge Pike, Royersford, PA 19468
-Augustus Lutheran Church/cemetery @ 717 W. Main Street, Trappe, PA 19426
-Lower Providence Baptist Church @ 3430 Ridge Pike, Eagleville, PA 19408
-Jeffersonvi l le Presbyterian Church/cemetery@ 1921 W. Main St, Norristown, PA 19403 -Germantown Mennonite Meeting House @ 6119 Germantown Ave, Phil, PA 19144
-Leverington Cemetery/Baptist Church @ 6075 Ridge Ave, Phil, PA 19128
- Ft. Washington State Park off Joshua Rd (lunch break) -Heinrich and Anna Frey cemetery on pr ivate proper ty @ 2285 Kerr Rd, Harleysville, PA 19438
-Franconia Mennonite Meeting House/cemetery @ 613 Harleysvi l le Pike/Souderton Pike, Telford, PA 18969
-Bartolet Meeting House/cemetery @ 538 Colonial Rd, Perkiomenville, PA 18074
Saturday, 13 June 2015 Bus Tour
Fannie Frey, Sue Steffy, Naomi Fisher of our group, Suzanne, a docent from the Mennonite Center, and Keith, our bus driver were all well-versed in the Amish and Mennonite culture so we had five experts to learn from for our activities on Saturday.
We toured Amish country and saw many neat, clean, green farms. We learned about Amish schools, the period in a young person’s life called Rumspringa, Amish weddings, the importance of music and time to socialize, Amish dress, legalities involving taxes and such, the use of electricity, steel wheeled tractors, bicycles and scooters, telephones, and much more.
We stopped at one Amish farm which was outfitted for tour buses with many things for sale. The grounds and barns were impeccable.
We s topped, shopped, and a te in Intercourse, Lancaster County, PA. Some of our members went on an Amish buggy ride.
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We ended the day in the home of Levi and Lydia Stoltzfus, an Amish couple who offer an Amish wedding feast for groups such as ours. They have 44 grandchildren. Some of them were on hand to help with the dinner. Fannie Frey, Naomi Fisher, and Lydia Stoltzfus took part in a conversation in Pennsylvania Dutch for us. Levi and Lydia were very gracious and answered many questions. It was a wonderful day and a great evening. Upon returning to the Holiday Inn, the formal events of the reunion came to an end.
However, on Sunday, thirteen of us went into Lancaster, PA to see the musical, HMS Pinafore by Gilbert and Sullivan. Sue Steffy was in the play and we surprised her with our strong showing. Now, the reunion was over. Well, we all had to dine together first, then it was over.
Marilyn Fry Costa Mesa, CA
Mike Speers Chardon, OH
Joining the DAR by Joyce Barr Balsley
M y d a u g h t e r , T e r e s a L o s h , granddaughter, Annamarie Losh, and I all joined the Augusta Parish Chapter NSDAR of Staunton, VA at the same time in July, 2008.
On August 23, 2014, with the sponsorship of our DAR chapter, Augusta Parish, we were able to have a DAR ceremony and place a DAR marker on the grave of my g-g-g-g-grandfather, James Barr in Brannon's Cemetery (a family cemetery out in the middle of a field on top of a hill). He fought in the Revolutionary War under General George Washington and also in the War of 1812. He was the great great grandfather of my great grandfather,
Robert Burns Barr who was married to Virginia Fry, g-g-g-g-grandaughter of the Heinrich Frye. clan. Helen Austin, a family member, who is also a a member of the Stephens Chapter DAR in Decatur, AL helped in providing historical information. Betty Wade, a family member, of the Thomas Hughart Chapter DAR also attended the ceremony. The William
Henshaw Chapter DAR of Martinsburg, WV provided delicious refreshments. All four DAR chapters had wreaths placed on the grave after the placing of the DAR Marker was completed. So, if any of my Fry kith and kin have a Revolutionary War soldier or patriot in their ancestral line, they want to have this done. You do not have to be a DAR member to do so, but have to be sponsored by a DAR chapter. If they agree to do so, they can provide you with the forms and information you need in order to apply to the National DAR Headquarters for their permission. It's a great thing to do for your Revolutionary War ancestor.
1. Heinrich Frey / Anna Catherine Levering
2. Benjamin Frey / Christena 3. Henry Frye / Fanny Littler 4. Benjamin Frye / Mary Frye 5. Isaac Lee Frye / Mary Magdaline
Louise Fry 6. Virginia Frye / Robert Burns Barr 7. William Thurman Barr / Ina Wheeler
Watson 8. Hugh Clinton Barr / Elizabeth Page
Hutchens 9. Joyce A. Barr / Leonard Balsley 10. Teresa Balsley Losh 11. Annamarie Losh
Joyce Barr Balsley Stuarts Draft, VA
STORIES FROM DAN FRYE
From the editor: In spite of a diminishing number of requests, we will continue to share some stories from Dan Frye. There are four of them in my cache, so by this time next year, perhaps we’ll know more about Dan than anyone should ever know.
I actually value his stories because they show us what life was like in the late 1930’s and into the 1940’s in his part of rural America. Dan was born in 1931 in Cape Girardeau, MO. He was the fourth of seven children born to Emma Brucher Frye and John Grant Frye. His much younger sister Helen Frye Craig and youngest brother Ralph E. Frye (husband of Marti Frye) are in HFFA.
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The Big Experiments by Dan Frye
When I was in about 15 and in High School, I read everything I could about making gun powder. I could go down to the Hartner's Drug Store, and buy saltpeter, powdered sulfur, and powdered charcoal.
I began experimenting with the ratio of each ingredient and when I was satisfied, I began making black gunpowder. I would fill anything that would hold the powder and a fuse. I used old door knobs, bedstead knobs, empty 30 cal. military rifle, and 50 cal. machine gun shells.
You could fill a 30 cal. shell with g-powder and add a piece of dynamite fuse and crimp it closed with pliers. I had a 30" piece of one inch pipe and an end cap that made a good cannon, I would stick it into the ground and aim it toward Dooms Town. I would light the fuse and drop it fuse end down into the pipe. When it exploded, the rifle shell would rocket out of sight with a huge whistling sound. I don't know how far they went, but heard of no deaths in the area. The door knobs made great hand grenades, but you had better be behind a tree when they exploded.
Dan Frye Ft. Myers, FL
HFFA on Facebook
At the HFFA general meeting, 6/10/2015, creating a fun presence on Facebook was discussed. Gretchen Fry Harvey talked about establishing a closed group. She received authorization to go ahead and create such a Facebook group for us.
She is the administrator of the Heinrich Frey Family Association Facebook Group. (Marti Frye has now been added as the co-administrator.) Membership is ONLY open to members of HFFA.
To join, go to Facebook and search for the name of the group, Heinrich Frey Family Association. Make a request to join the group. Either Gretchen or Marti will “approve” your request, and you are then able to participate. Recently, I saw that there were about 45 members in the group.
Already there are hundreds of photos on the site. You can post pictures and make comments that only the members of the group can see without being seen by anyone outside the group.
It’s been a lot of fun. See you on Facebook.
Smith Frye Shot in the Stockyards From an uncredited newspaper article
“[A] name associated with the story of Jackson’s Corners in Peoria is that of Smith Frye. It was he who, with William B. Moss, built the Peoria and of what later became the Rock Island Railroad.
“He also operated the “Upper Ferry” at “The Narrows” of the Illinois River just above Peoria. He acquired much land in the vicinity of Jackson’s Corners and was one of Peoria’s wealthiest citizens.
“Mr. Frye was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania and in 1836 came west locating in Richwoods Township. He farmed thousands of acres and built one of Peoria’s finest residences. He was a friend and supporter of Governor Ford, who rests in Springdale Cemetery.
“His death was tragic. He was killed by a pistol shot at the stockyards. The shot, an accident, was fired by a man named Carroll who was entirely exonerated by Mr Frye from any blame.
“The Smith Frye addition was between Knoxville and Wisconsin on both sides of Illinois and Pennsylvania Avenues. He designated the streets Peoria, Washington (now Dechman), Missouri, California, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. He also named Frye Avenue.
“Mr. Frye has several descendants in Peoria. Among them [was] J.B. Frye. He was sheriff at the time of the Douglas-Lincoln debate in 1854 and was marshal of the Douglas parade on that occasion.”
Mike Speers Chardon, OH
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HFFA OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
President: Gene Frye 2127 Bristow Ave. Kansas City, KS 66103 913-384-0084 [email protected]
Vice-President: Jon Frye 4356 Chippewa Trail Jamestown, OH 45335 937 – 372-8115 [email protected]
Secretary: Gretchen Fry Harvey 3026 Club House Circle Costa Mesa, CA 92626 949 - 683 - 6831 [email protected]
Treasurer: Mike Speers 10470 Penniman Dr. Chardon, OH 44024 440 – 285 - 8477 [email protected]
Director at Large: Phillip Frye 2381 Vermont St. Bussey, IA 50044 [email protected]
Director at Large: Thelma McKenzie 3188 Vigal Rd. Springfield, IL 62712 [email protected]
Director at Large: Ralph E. Frye 308 Bellevue Plantation Rd. Lafayette, LA 70503 [email protected]
Director at Large: Anne Pasieka 414 West Hawthorne St. Arlington Hts., IL 60004 [email protected]
Director at Large: Janet Goforth 1861 Smith Dr. Turlock, CA 95382 [email protected]
Immediate Past President: Gordon Fry 1118 W. Oklahoma St. Arkansas City, KS 67005 [email protected]
Family Historian: Charles Burgess 3687 Kent Dr. Naples, FL 34112
Family Historian - Coordinator for Family Research: Marti Frye
308 Bellevue Plantation Rd. Lafayette, LA 70503-6056 Ph. 337 - 988 - 6110 [email protected]
COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Archivist: Gordon Fry
Journal Editor: Jon Frye
Membership Chairman: Marti Frye 308 Bellevue Plantation Rd. Lafayette, LA 70503-6056 337 - 988 - 6110 [email protected]
Links Book Coordinator: Marti Frye Cost $15 per CD
Newsletter Editor: Mike Speers
Web Master: Christopher D. Frye 1015 Abbey Lane Boise, ID 83705 208-953-1104 [email protected]
$25 dues are paid annually in January
Dues and address changes should be sent to Marti Frye at address above. Dues may be paid for multiple years. Make checks payable for $25.00 (per year) to HFFA. Membership is on a calendar year basis.
New members are asked to send a copy of their direct line from Heinrich Frey to themselves to Marti Frye addresses shown above. Membership includes four issues of the Newsletter and at least one of the Journal each year.
The Links Book cost $15 per CD. Please contact Marti Frye.
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